DAVAO ORIENTAL – Five couples, consisting of former rebels and their civilian spouses, have officially tied the knot on September 13, 2019, in time for the Happy Home’s 6th Founding Anniversary.
The ceremony was held at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral which was preceded by a baptismal and confirmation rite.
Following the solemn ceremony was a grand reception held at Happy Home Processing Center for Former Rebels at Sitio Magay, Barangay Don Martin Marundan, City of Mati.
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who graced the mass wedding together with various government department heads as principal sponsors congratulated and sent their best wishes to the newlyweds who are beneficiaries of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“Today, as you celebrate the union of your love, marks also the creation of a legal family. We must never forget that our family, as the basic unit of our society plays vital roles in the development of our province and our country in general especially in peace and progress,” Gov. Dayanghirang said emphasizing that first-hand discipline and lessons in life were taught inside the home with parents as teachers.
One of the wedding principal sponsors is the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Head Sarah D. Gudes, who encouraged the couples’ family members present to support and guide them especially in raising their children to become good citizens of the country.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Orle D. Cabaobao reminded the principal sponsors of their roles and responsibilities as second parents of the newlyweds, especially in building strong foundation for the starting family.
“E-CLIP, through DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Provincial Government of Davao Oriental and other peace and development partners is a program of our concerted efforts and exemplary convergence wherein we treated each other as one family for peace and development,” said PD Cabaobao.
6 Years of Transforming Rebels to Nation-builders
A brainchild of Former Governor, now First District Representative Corazon Nunez-Malanyaon, the Happy Home remains steadfast to its mission in transforming former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Rebels into Filipino nation-builders before letting them go to the mainstream society.
Today, Happy Home is among the shining examples of excellence in local governance that is worthy of emulation and has been continuously helping rebels in their transition to civilian life under the present leadership of Governor Nelson Dayanghirang’s leadership. The transition shelter is now the most benchmarked program of the provincial government.
Since 2015, Happy Home is benchmarked by 44 groups with almost 1,000 individuals already coming from other Local Government Units, AFP Personnel, Non-government Organizations, National Government Agencies and other private sectors, nationally according to center’s manager Emalyn Oliveros.
Furthermore, more than 400 former members of the Communists New People’s Army have already benefitted from the program that entices the insurgents to leave the armed struggle in exchange for huge financial assistance and a host of other benefits.
Among these benefits are free Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Courses with eligibility, registration to Social Security System insurance, PhilHealth insurance, Birth Certificate issuance and Entrepreneurial Skills Training. Under basic education, former rebels may undergo to Alternative Learning System by Department of Education.
Happy Home is now considered a model in the successful E-CLIP implementation, inspiring other local government units to emulate because they believe that this local initiative is an effective strategy in building and fostering long-lasting peace. By Van Jorain O. Rufin/Photos by Rhea Shane Laureano
